Selecting system



Dec. 2s, 1937.-

E. R. WHEELER El' AL SELECTING SYSTEM l s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2o, 1930 INVENTORS E. l?. WHEEL Eff/did Smrromf m6, /mmm ATTORNEY AW Qmm.

Dec 28, 1937. E. R. WHEELER Er AL 2,103,761

SELECTING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 20, 1950 5 Shelets-Sheet 2 Fractie 11.1

STOCKAB STOCKABC STOCK B STOCK BA To Aux. Con/ant Switches TTORNEY Dec. 28, 1937. E. R. WHEELER ET A. 2,103,761

A SELE'CTING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 20, 1.930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3' 88 SI5? A 5/85 C /I lNvENToR ER WHEH [Ra/'did 30km/ef BY v 6( TTORNEY Patented Dec. 2.8, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orrics SELECTING SYSTEM Application January 20, 1930, Serial No. 422,150

13 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric signalling system and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for operating selecting apparatus in response to electric signals transmitted over a single line wire whereby one or more of a large number of circuits may be selected at a distant point.

The invention is especially applicable to a remote controlled item quotation system, such. as

stock quotations whereby the prices of a multitude of different items may be posted, although it is not limited to such a system.

In a stock quotation system the code signals, corresponding to the desired quotation, may be transmitted from a common point, such as a stock exchange and distributed to selecting and indicating apparatus. located at brokers offices, banks and similar places, whereby the quotations may be posted automatically and with a minimum of delay.

The information concerning each stock which it is desired to post upon the automatic quotation board is the open, high, low and last quotations of the day and the closing quotation o of the preceding day. These quotations involve the use of four indicating units corresponding to the hundreds, tens, units and fractional values of the stock. It is necessary therefore, to provide on the quotation board five sets of indicators, each set having four indicator units and the apparatus must be capable of responding to the transmitted signals, rst to select the particular stock to be posted, second to select the range thereof, i. e., whether the open, close,high, low or last quotation and third to operate cach of the indicator units of the selected stock and range to post a new price or quotation. The present invention is concerned only with the apparevtusl for selecting the particular stock or other item to be posted.

In remote controlled stock quotation systems, as heretofore constructed and shown for example in patent to Steenecli No. 2,034,064, granted March i7, 1936, the stock selection has been obtained by giving each stock an arbitrary three digit designating number and transmitting three series of impulses of either positive or negative polarity correspondingin number of impulses to each oi the digits of the stock designating number. These impulses are transmitted over two or more lines to operate the selecting mechanism at the quotation board. The signals transmitted over each line wire may consist of interspaced positive and negative impulses, the positive impulses forming one control channel between the transmitting and receiving stations and the negative impulses forming another control channel. Two line wires provide facilities for four channels o communication, three of which, as stated, are used for the stock selection, the fourth being used for the range selection.

The number of stocks which may be selected by a` system employing two line wires is thus limited to 999 and since the listings on the New York stock exchange at the present time eX- ceed this number, it is the practice to employ two distinct systems for each ofce, each system accommodating half of the listings on the exchange. The use of arbitrary number designations for the stocks also requires the conversion of the usual alphabetical abbreviations or designations of the stock, into the numerical designations. Due to the extremely large number of stocks listed on the exchange this conversion cannot be readily accomplished mentally by the transmitting operator and the automatic conversion mechanism devised for this purpose is complicated.

It is one of the objects of the present invention therefore, to produce a selecting system in which the alphabetical item designations or abbreviations may be transmitted directly to the selecting apparatus and the signals corresponding thereto be employed at the receiving station to eiect the selection.

Another object is to increasethe possible number of item selections which may be accomplished with a single selecting system.

Another object is to produce a transmitting and receiving selecting system requiring but a single line wire, which will be rapid and dependable in operation.

A still further object is to produce an automatic item selecting system which is operable on signals of the Baudot code type.

Another object is to provide a system in which it is necesasry to transmit item selecting signals and to allot line time to signals corresponding only to the actual characters of the alphabetical item designation of the particular item.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

' In accordance with our invention we employ a single line wire for transmitting the selecting signals to the selecting system and if desired several selecting systems may be serially arranged so as to be operated from the same line Wire.

We employ a so-called start-stop system of transmission employing a uniform impulse code of the Baudot type composed of a start impulse, five or more character selecting impulses, and a stop impulse. The character selecting impulses consist of different combinations of positive and negative impulses, each character combination corresponds to one letter of the alphabet. Where the stock or other item selection only is to be accomplished by means of the code a ive unit code is sufficient since it gives thirty-two different code combinations. This enables at least one distinct code combination to be used for each letter of the alphabet and one or more clearing out signals, when required, for restoring Y the selecting system to normal after a selecting operation.

However, we prefer to employ a six unit code since this gives a total of sixty-four code combinations, thus providing suiiicient code combinations, in addition to the alphabetical signals, to eifect the operation of the indicators at the quotation board, of the item selected by the alphabetical code combinations. In our copending application, Serial No. 422,148, filed January 20, 1930, and entitled Stockselecting and indicating system, we have shown and described a complete stock selecting and indicator operating system for a quotation board operable upon a six unit code. Y

The twenty-six letter code signals operate the contacts of a primary receiving selector, associated with the selecting mechanism, to complete the selecting circuits. VBriefly the primary receiving selector comprises a number of notched code disks, a separate disk being provided for each impulse of the unit code. The code disks are shifted in accordance with whether positive or negative impulsesare received so as to assume, for each letter code combinations, one of a possible twenty-six different relative positions. In each position of the code disks there is a single set of notches in alignment. An annular row of `Contact control bars, one being provided for each letter of the alphabet, are disposed around the code disks and are urged towards the notches therein by spring pressure, so that in each position of the code disks one of the control bars is enabled to enter the aligned notches. The movement of the contact control bars into the aligned notches closes an electrical contact and thereby establishes a circuit extending from the primary receiving selector to the selecting apparatus.

'I'he start impulse operates a line magnet associated with the primary receiving selector to set a cam shaft into operation to shift the disks in accordance with the ve or six succeeding impulses constituting the character code combination. The stop impulse brings the cam shaft to rest in readiness for the next group of signal impulses.

A three segment commutator, having a rotating brush, is associated with the receiving selector so that the brush Will be stepped around over one contact for each letter code combination received. A master relay is provided for each item appearing on theV quotation board, the function of which is to complete the return circuit' from the selected indicators. The master relay is controlled by one, two or three intermediate relays, depending upon the number of letters in the alphabetical abbreviation of the item. For convenience we have termed the relays which respond to the signals representing the rst letter of the abbreviation or designation, the primary selecting relays, those responding to signals representing the second letter of the abbreviation, the secondary selecting relays and the third group corresponding to the third letter of the stock abbreviation, the tertiary selecting relays.

The three segment commutator controls the distribution of the circuits closed through the contacts of the primary receiving selector in response tothe first, second or third letter combination of the item abbreviation, to the primary,secondary and tertiary groups of relays, respectively.

The master relay closes an electrical path from the return of the magnets of eachV of the indicators of the itemV selected, thus preparing a path to be completed by the figure code signals for operating the selected indicators.

In order thatV the invention may be more fully understood reference will be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a circuitl diagram of tle primary receiving selector and the selecting mechanism controlled thereby;

Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the indicator units associated with the selectingV mechanism;

Figure 3 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of one of the indicator units;

Figure 4 illustrates the arrangement of one set of indicator units on the quotation board.

Figure 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic illustration of the primary receiving selector;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the code disc; and Y Figure '7 is a fragmentary view, showing the arrangement for operating the code disc selecting fingers.

Referring to Figure l we have shown a receiving selector IB having a group of letter contacts II, a clearing out Contact I2 and a number ofV figure contacts I3. While letter contacts A to E only are shown it will be understood that a letter contact is provided for each letter oi the alphabet.

The letter contacts control a group of twentysix circuits for making the stock selection through a group of selecting relays. The clearing out contact serves to restore the selecting mechanism to normal after each cycle of operation and the iigure contacts control circuits for operating the selected indicators. Each Contact is closed by one of a number of contact control bars I operated in response to the code signals. The construction of the primary receiving selector is shown in Figures 5, 6, and '7 and will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The receiving selector has associated with it a three segment commutator I5, having segments I, 2, and 3. The commutator is engaged by a rotary brush I 5 mounted on a shaft I l', which may be driven through a friction clutch or other form of slip clutch from a continously operating motor, not shown.

A stop wheel I8 is rigidly mounted upon thc yshaft I'I and has three notches i9 adapted to be engaged by a stop arm 20, to hold the shaft against rotation. A magnet having two windings 2l and 22 controls the operation of the stop arm 20 to remove it from the notches I9 and thereby permit the shaft I'I to rotate a third of a revolution so as to move the brush lf3 over one segment of the commutator. A latch 23 is normally held out of engagement with the stop arm 2li by a spring 24 and is adapted to be attracted by a magnet 25, when energized, to lock the stop arm in its upper or release position, to permit the shaft y joined by a conductor 29 to the winding 22 of the' which engages the latch 23 at the end of eachV revolution of the brush to trip` the latch and permit the stop arm to' re-engage the stop Wheel I8.

A The commutator I5 controls the distributionY t oi the letter signals to the stock selecting relays so that the signal corresponding to the irst letter of the stock abbreviation or designation will operate the primary selecting relays, the second letter signal will operate the secondary selecting relays and the third letter signal will operate the tertiary selecting relays.'

One contact 23 of each of the letter switches is commutator operating magnet and thenceto a source of positive potential. The opposite contact 3d of each of the letter switches is connected to the windings of the selecting relays in a manner to be described hereinafter, One contact 3l of each of the figure switches I3 is connected by a conductor i2 to the Winding 2I of the commmutator operating magnet, thence to the Winding of the latch magnet 25 and to av source of positive potential. The opposite contacts 32' of the gure switches are connected to the segments of the commutator of the operating motor of the indicators positioned on the quotation board. The clearing-out switch I2 completes the circuit from positive battery through va conductor 33 to the n winding of a lock release relay 34.

for each letter of the alphabet.

Thestock selection is accomplished through a series ci relays corresponding in number to the number of letters inthe alphabetical abbreviation of the stock. For instance, fora stock having the abbreviation ABC, three selecting relays would be provided. The relay corresponding to the first letter of the stock abbreviation, namely the A relay in the present case, is termed the primary selecting relay. `The relay corresponding to the second lett-er of the stock selection or B relay is the secondary selecting relay and the relay corresponding to the third letter of the abbreviation, or C relay, is the' tertiary relay. The primary relays of all stocks appearing on the quotation board are arranged in one vertical group 35, which, as shown in Figure l, comprises three A relays, three B relays, a C relay, a D relay and an E relay. It will be understood that there may be one or more relays for cach letter of the alphabet in the primary group. The secondary and tertiary relays areV similarly grouped at 36 and 31. For a stock, the abbreviation of which comprises a single letter, as A, only one selecting relay would be employed, as shown at 3B, this relay being positioned in the primary group. Stocks having two letter abbreviations require two selecting relays disposed in the primary and secondaryv groups respectively, as indicated at 39.

One end of each of the operating windings of the A relays, of all groups are connected by a conductor lil to the contact 3i! of the A switch, at the receiving selector. Similarly the operating windings of the B relays are connected to the contacts of the B selecting switches and so on The opposite ends oi' the operating windings of each relay of the primary group are connected by a conductor di to segment I of the commutator I5 and through the brush iii thereof to a source of negative potential. The return ends of the operating windings ofthe selecting relays of the secondary group 36 are connected by a conductor 42 to segment 2 of the commutator i5 and the return ends of the operating windings of the tertiary relays 31 are connected by a conductor 4? to segment 3 oi the commutator. Conductor 42 has the winding of a primary release relay 44 in series therewith and conductor 43 has the winding oi a secondary release relay 45 in series therewith.

Each ofthe selecting relays has two contact tongues 41 and 48 and corresponding front con-V tacts.

The locking or right hand winding, of each or the relays 3B corresponding to single letter stock abbreviations, is connected by a conductor 49 through the contact tongue Evil and back contact of the primary release relay 44 and thence through the back contact and tongue 5I of the lock release relay 34, to a source of positive potential. Similarly the locking or right hand winding of each of the relays 39 corresponding to two letter stock abbreviations, is connected through the conductor 52 and contacts of the secondary release relay 45 to the contacts or" the lock release relay 34 and thence to positive battery. The locking windings of the relays of the threeletter stock abbreviations are connected by a conductor 53 directly to the back Contact of the lock release relay 315.

The opposite or right hand terminal of the locking Winding of each relay is connected to the tongue 4S oi the same relay and the front Contact of tongues 48, of each of the selecting relays, is connected by a conductor 54 to a source of negative potential.

The front contacts of tongues 4l. oi' the pri-n mary selecting relays, are also connected through the contacts of the release relays 44 or l5 and 34 to the source of positive potential. The tongues 41 of the primary selectingrelays 33, correspondu ing to single letter abbreviation, are connected directly to one end of the'winding of a master relay 55. There is one master relay provided for each stock. The tongue i1 of each of the primary relays, corresponding to two or three letter abbreviations, is connected'to the iront contact of tongue 41 of the secondary selecting relays and the tongue 41 of the secondary relays of the three letter stock abbreviations are connected to the front contact'of tongue 41 of the tertiary selecting relays. The tongue 41 of each of the secondary selecting relays having two letter abbreviations, is connected to the Winding oi the corresponding master relay and the tongue l of each of the tertiary relays is connected to its corresponding master relay.

The opposite ends of the windings of each of the master relays are connected through a conductor 56 to a source of negative potential.

The operation of the selecting relays is as follows: Assuming that the stock to be selected is designated by the abbreviation ABC, three letter signal combinations, representative oi these letters, will be transmitted to the receiving selector. Upon receipt of the A signal, the A switch of the selector IIJ is closed completing a circuit from the source of positive current through winding 22 of the commutator operating magnet, thence through the A contact of the selector lil to the operating windings of all of the A ren lays in the primary group and thence by conductor 4I to segment I of the commutator (on which brush I6 normally rests) and through the brush I6 to negative battery. All of the A relays or" the primary group will be energized and will comp-lete their locking circuits through the contacts of the primary release relay 44 and lock release relay 34. At the same time the magnet 22 will momentarily raise the stop. arm 20 to permit 'the brush I6 to rotate onto segment 2 of the commutator. By the time the brush passes onto segment 2 of the commutator, the A switch of the selector will have opened, so that none of the relays of the secondary group will be operated. The circuit of the master relay of the stock having the single letter abbreviation A will be completed at this time through the tongue 41 of the primary A relay 33.

Upon receipt of the B signal, the B selecting switch will close and complete a circuit for the operating windings of all of the B relays of the secondary group, the return circuits for these relays being completed through the windings of the primary release relay 44 and segment 2 of the commutator. The primary release relay 44 upon being energized opens its contact 5U and interrupts the locking circuit for all of the relays of the primary group. corresponding to a stock having a single letter abbreviation, as for instance, relay 38. that the master relay of the stock having the two letter abbreviation AB is operated through the tongues 41 of the selecting relays and the circuit to the master relay of stock ABC is prepared through the` A and B relays. The brush oi commutator 30 advances at this time onto segment 3 in readiness for the last selecting signal.

Upon receipt of the C signal and consequent closing of the C switch of the selector, all of the C relays of the tertiary groupfare operated, their circuits being completed through the winding of the secondary release relay V45 and segment 3 of the commutator. The secondary release relay 45 at this time opens the locking circuits of all stocks having two letter abbreviations. The selecting relays of the ABC stock, however, are locked up directly through the contacts of thelock release relay 34 and a circuit is corn,- pleted through each of the Contact tongues 41 of the A, B, and C relays to the master relay of the ABC stock.V

In the case of a stock having a single letter abbreviation, the circuit to the master relay is completed, as stated above, through the contacts of the primary selecting relay and the primary release relay 44, the locking circuit for the primary selecting relay being maintained since no further letter signals are transmitted. VLikewise in the case of a stock having a two letter abbreviation, the circuit to the master relay is completed through the contacts of the primary and secondary selecting relays and the contacts of secondary release relay 45.

If it is desired to employ more than three letter abbreviations, the number of selecting relays may be increased accordingly and an additional release relay and segment of the commutator I5 provided for each additional letter of the alphabetical abbreviation.

The front contact of each of thc master relays is connected to the conductor 56 and thence to the negative source of potential and the tongue of each of the master relays is connected to the return circuit for all of the indicators of the particular stock to which the master relay corresponds.

After the stock selection has been completed and the selected master relay held up, the figure signals are transmitted to operate the chosen in- At this time it will be noted dicators for the hundreds, tens, units and fractional values of the stock.

In Figure 3 we have shown one of the indicatorV units at the quotation board. The unit comprises an endless belt 51 mounted upon a cylinder 58 and a pair of idler rollers 59 and 6D. The belt 51 has on its outer surface the figure characters 1 to 9 and 0. The cylinder 58 is driven Vby an electric motor contained therein. The terminals of the motor are shown at 6| and 62. Mounted above the motor is a segmented commutator having two rings 63 and 64. Ring 63 has ten segments corresponding to each figure character on the belt 51. Ring 64 is solid. A brush 65 is mounted so as to bridge the rings 63 and 64 and is rotated from the cylinder 58 or from the motor at such speed as to pass from one segment of the ring 63 to the next segment as each of the figure characters on the belt passes a given point. A detent wheel 66 is also mounted for rotation with the cylinder and is provided with a series of notches 61 adapted to be engaged by a detent 68 operated by a magnet 69.

' One end of the winding of the detent magnet 69 is connected by a conductor 10 to the front contact of one of the master relays 55 and thence through the tongue of the master relay to a source of negative potential. The opposite Vend of the winding of the detent magnet is connected by a conductor 1I to terminal 6| 0f the driving motor. The terminal 62 of the motor is connected to the contact of a motor control relay 12 and through the tongue thereof to a source of positive potential. The solid commutator ring 64 is also connected to the motor terminal 6|.

Each of the ten segments of ring 63 is connected by one of a group of conductors 13 to one contact of the figure switches I3 of the receiving selector. The opposite contact of each switch is connected toY negative potential. While we have shownronly fourY contacts of the tens values it is understoodA that the receiving selector may have eight contacts for the fractional values of the quotation, ten for the units, ten for the tens and up to ten contacts for the hundreds. When employing a six unit code however, there are only four combinations available for the hundreds value of the quotation. Each ligure switch has an auxiliary contact 14 arranged so as to be engaged by the negative contact of each switch when it is closed. The contacts 14 are connected to one end of the winding of the motor control relay 12, the opposite terminal 0f which is connected to positive battery.

The indicator unit is mounted within a casing, the front wall 15 of which has a window 16 therein located between the idler rollers 59 and 60 and through which a single gure on the belt may be observed.

The operation of the indicator unit is as follows. Assuming gure selecting switch 3 to have been closed and the master relay 55 for selecting this particular indicator to havebeen operated, a circuit is rst completed from the negative source of potential through the auxiliary contact 14 of figure selecting switch 3, to the winding of motor control relay 12. This relay then picks up and completes a circuit through the contacts of the master relay 55, winding of the detent magnet 69, winding of the indicator motor and contacts of relay 12 to positive battery. The detent 68 is withdrawn from the detent wheel to permit the cylinder to rotate under the action of the motor so as to drive the belt 51 past the window 16. As the cylinder revolves the brush 65 passes over the commutator contacts until it engages contact 3 of ring 63. At this time a shunt path is provided for the motor through segment 3 of the commutator and the figure switch 3 of the receiving selector, thus short circuiting the detent magnet 69 which thereupon releases its detent to again engage the detent wheel and bring the cylinder to rest. The motor circuit remains closed, however, until the gure selecting switch 3 is opened. The motor may drive lthe cylinder 58 through a slip clutch, not shown.

In Figure 2 we have shown three indicator units for stock A, corresponding to the tens, units and fractional values of the quotation. Ii desired a fourth indicator corresponding to the hundreds value of the stock may also be provided. The rings 63 and 54 of the commutator are shown developed. The driving motor is indicated at il and the detent magnet at 63. The ten segments of the ring B3 are connected by a group of Wires 13 to the ten iigure switches, corresponding to the tens value of the quotation at the receiving selector. Likewise the ten segments of the units indicator are connected to the corresponding ten unit switches of the receiving selector and the eight segments of the fractions indicator commutator are connected to the fractions selecting switches. For the remaining stocks AB to BA, we have shown a single indicator unit, it being understood that a full set of indicators are employed in actual practice for each stock. The speciiic arrangement and connections for the indicator units form no part of the present invention and therefore have not been shown complete. They are fully illustrated in our copending application, Serial No. 422,148, filed January 20, 1930.

The return circuit for the indicators of each stock is completed by a group of conductors 'I8 to the contacts of the master relays corresponding to each stock.

In order to post a particular quotation on the indicator board a group of selecting signals are transmitted to the receiving selector to lock up one of the master relays through the contacts of the selecting relays. A number of iigure signals are then transmitted corresponding to the desired digits oi the stock quotation which it is desired to post. If the hundreds, tens, units and fractions values of the quotation are all to be posted, four such gure code combinations are transmitted to close a figure selecting switch corresponding to the hundreds, tens, units and fractional values of the stock and thereby to prepare a circuit through the contact segments of each indicator of the stock selected. The indicators are reset by their operating motor to their new position.

The closing of each of the iigure switches of the receiving selector I8 operates the commutator I5 associated therewith to reset the commutator brush I6 upon segment I. Thus, for instance, assuming signals corresponding to a single letter stock abbreviation to have been transmitted, the brush of the commutator would rest upon segment 2 at the time the iirst figure code combination was transmitted. The closing of each of the iigure switches of the receiving selector, completes a circuit through the winding of the latch magnet 25 and the winding 2l of the commutator operating magnet. Upon operation of these magnets the stop arm 2u is raised and locked in raised position by the latch 23. The commutator shaft I1 is thus permitted to rotate continuously until the brush I6 comes on to segment I at which time the release arm 26 engages the latch to trip it and thus restore the stop arm 20 into contact with the stock wheel I8, arresting the motion of the brush upon segment I. The commutator is thus reset at the end of the transmission of each set of figure signals with the brush on segment I in readiness for the letter signals of the following stock selection.

After the operation of the fractions indicators it is necessary to restore the system to normal by releasing the master relay of the stock selected.` This may be accomplished by PrOVidillg each of the fraction switches at the receiving selector with an auxiliary contact disposed so as to be closed upon closing of the main contact. However, if desired, the auxiliary contact may be independent of any of the iigure contacts, as indicated at I2, in Figure 1, so as to be operated by a separate code signal. e

The auxiliary contact I2 completes a circuit from negative battery through conductor 33 to the lock release relay 34 causing energization thereof and thereby breaking the locking circuit to the selecting relays oi the stock selected. The master relay is thus released and interrupts the return circuit from the selecting indicators. When the auxiliary switch is operated with the contacts of the fractions switches, the master relay must be sufficiently slow-to-release, to permit the fractions indicators to be set before the indicator return circuit is interrupted.

Referring now to Figures 5 and 6, a more detailed description will be given of the primary receiving selector. It comprises a series of code disks 8e, corresponding in number to the number of units of the code. In the present instance six code disks are shown. Each code disk is mounted upon a cylinder 8|, Figure 6, so as to have limited rotation around the same in one direction against the action of a spring 82 which tends to return the disk against a stop numberV 33. Each of the disks has a number of notches or slots 84 in its periphery. A group of contact control bars 85 are arranged around the periphery of the code disks and are biased towards the disks by springs 86. The contact control bars are pivoted around a pivot ring 81.

The code disks are set up in predetermined combinations by the code signals and in each relative position thereof a single set of notches 84 in each of the disks, come into alignment so as to permit one of the contact control bars to move into such aligned notches. A pair of contacts II are located adjacent the end of each of the contact control bars so as to be closed theregy when the bars move into the notches of the 'sks.

The code character impulses are received over the main line 8B by a polarized relay 89. The tongue of the relay 89 is connected to a grounded source of potential and the marking contact 90 is connected to one end of the winding of a magnet 9I, the opposite end of the magnet winding being grounded. Upon the reception of a marking or negative impulse over the main line, the magnet 9| will be energized and upon the reception of a spacing or positive impulse, magnet 9| will release its armature.

The code disks 80 are set up in accordance with the code combination transmitted over the line, by the selecting mechanism associated with a cam sleeve 92, having four cam grooves A, B, C, and D.

Cam groove or track A serves to vibrate a striker bar or reed 93 causing it to strike a selecting pin 94 and force it inward against the tension of a iiat spring 95,7bywhich it is carried. Whenever the pin is moved inwardly it strikes one of six vertical selecting ngers 93 and pushes it under one of the extension arms 91 projecting from the code disks 80. oscillated once for each of the six selection'impulses, by the arm 9B which carries a roller 99 following in the cam groove or track A.

The selecting pin 94 is moved successively in front of the selecting fingers by the traversing bar |00, which is shifted by a link |0|, having a roller $02 following in the cam track B. This track or groove B is so shaped that it will cause the bar |00 to position the pin 94 in front of the first or left hand selection finger at the instant the rst selecting impulse is received by the relay S9. The pitch or incline of the groove B is such that the pin 9c will be moved synchronously with the line impulses so that it will be successively opposite the'proper finger at the time the corresponding impulse of the code is received. At the end ofeach code or character selection the bar |00 returns the pin 94 to its extreme left hand position during the interval of the rest and start impulses, so that it will be in a position opposite the first selection finger when the first selecting impulse is received.

As pointed out above, the cam track A causes the striker bar Y93 to vibrate once for each of the six selecting impulses but in order that the code character may be set up on the code disks it is necessary that the selection ngers should be moved inwardly only when marking impulses are received while they should remain in non-selected position when spacing impulses are received. This 4distinction is effected by means of a rocker arm |03 which forms the armature of the magnet 9|. 'Ihe rocker arm is pivoted at |04 and has one end normally held by a spring |05 in the path of a stop pin |06;` extending from the cam sleeve 92. The opposite end of the rocker arm is connected by a link |91 to a crank |08 extending under the striker bar 93 and which serves to raise the striker bar above the selecting pin 94 so that it will not engage the same when moved inwardly.

The cam sleeve 92 is connected to a continuously operating driving shaft |09 by a slip clutch l0.

Upon the receipt of a character code combination the first or start impulse is always of the marking variety and the magnet 9| is energized in response thereto, VVthus attracting the rocker arm |33 and removing the same from the path of the stop pin |06. starts to rotate and at the same time the crank |98 is lowered from under the striker bar 93 to position the striker bar opposite the selecting p If the next impulse, which is the rst of the selecting impulses,V is a marking impulse, the rocker arm |03 will remain in the same position and hence the striker bar 93 will remain opposite the selecting pin 94. The cam groove B will at this instant have positioned the pin 94 opposite the first selection nger 96 and the rst notch in the cam groove A will cause the striker bar to strike the pin 94 and move the selection finger 96 under the projecting end of the rst extension arm 91.

If the next selecting impulse is a spacing 1mp-ulse, i. e., of positive polarity, the magnet 9i will release the rocker arm |03 and the link |01, upon movement to the right, will raise the striker bar 93 above the selecting pin 94.V Accordingly when the cam groove A causes the striker bar to Y The striker bar 93 is Thereupon, the cam sleevev vencarar again move inwardly at the instant of the secrondv impulse it will lnot engage the pin 94 and hence the selection finger 95 will remain in a nonselected position. In this manner the six selection ngers will be pushed inward or remain in outward non-selected position in accordance with the marking and spacing impulses of the code character. Y

Before the six selection fingers were positioned, the roller follower carried by the lever H2, riding in the cam groove C caused the lever to slide the sleeve i3 to the right against the inner ends of the arms H4 of the entire annular set CII of contact control bars 85, thus rocking all the rod |19 and the selection ngers 99. The ngers whichwere selected and pushed inwardly by the pin 94, now lift their associated extension arms 97 and rotate the disks 80 about the stationary supporting drum 8 l Y At the instant the disks have been shifted in accordance with the new code combination, the follower roller i| passes an offsetv in cam groove C, thereby sliding the sleeve H3 to the left and permitting the contact control bars to be brought momentarily against the disks by their retractile springs 86. One bar, representing the character selected by the code combination, enters the aligned row of notches in the disks. instant the selection fingers 99 are all returned to their initial position by the return lever |29.

'Ihe operation of the return lever 20 is as follows. As the striker pin positioning bar i 00 moves to the right across the six selecting'fingers, the outer end of this 'oar moves the pivoted lever |2| Vabout its pivot |22. A yoke shaped member |23 of the lever |29, Vthus permitting the spring |21V to swing the yoke on its pivot until the arm |25 engages the right hand Vside of the bar |28. When the bar |00 moves on its return stroke, towards the left, the yoke arm |25 pushes the lever arm |28, causing the return lever` |29 to move forward and pull the selecting ngers 9S back to their initial position. rThe yoke arm |24 then strikes the abutment l 26, and rocks the yoke on its pivot until the end |25 again slips over the top of the lever arm |28.

The construction and operation of the primary receiving selector is more fully described in connection with an automatic printing telegraph system, in a copending application of Dirkes and Wheeler, Serial No. 285,838, led June 161928 and entitled Telegraph receiving apparatus.

While we have described our selecting system with specialreferenoe to alphabetical stock designations,rsuch as are employed Vin Ystock transactions, it is to be understood that numerical The next designations may be used of one, two, three, or

more digits, in whichv case the receiving selector would require but ten selecting contacts. This Would release sixteen of the code combinations for other functions, such as operation of the indicators, posting the volume of sales and the like.

It is obvious of course, that numerous changes may be made in the selecting system and apparatus disclosed without departing from the invention and we contemplate all such changes as come within the scope oi the appended claims.

What We claim is:

l1. In a selecting system a plurality of electrical devices, each having a distinctive designation comprising one or more characters, a selecting relay individual to each electrical device for each character of the distinctive designation thereof, means responsive to character code signals for preparing circuits representative of each code signal, means for completing said circuits in succession through the windings of the selecting relays corresponding to said character code signals, and a circuit for each of said electrical device completed upon operation of each of the selecting relays individual thereto.

2. In a selecting system a plurality of electrical devices each having a distinctive designation comprising one or more characters, a selecting relay individual to each character of the designation of each electrical device, said selecting relays being arranged in groups corresponding to the order of the characters of each designation, means responsive to a group oi character code signals for operating the selecting relays corresponding to said character code signals in each group in succession, a circuit for each of said electrical devices completed through the contacts of the selecting relays individual thereto, locking circuits for each of said selecting relays and means for interrupting the locking circuits of the selecting relays corresponding to electrical devices having apredetermined number of designating characters when signals are transmitted corresponding to electrical devices having a greater number of designating characters.

3. In a selecting system a plurality of electrica devices having distinctive designations comprising one or more characters, a selecting relay individual to each character of the designation of each electrical device, said relays being arranged in groups corresponding to the order of the characters of each designation, means responsive to character code signals for preparing circuits corresponding to said character code signals, means for completing said circuits in succession through the windings of the relays of each group, corresponding to said character code signals, a circuit for each of said electrical devices completed through the contacts of the selecting relays individual to each electrical device, a locking circuit for each selecting relay and means for interrupting the locking circuit of the selecting relays of one group corresponding to electrical devices not having a representative relay in a succeeding group, when any relay of said succeeding group is operated.

4. In a selecting system, a plurality of sets of selecting relays, each set comprising a primary relay, a primary and secondary relay, or a primary, secondary and tertiary relays, all of the primary relays being grouped, the secondary relays being grouped, and the tertiary relays being grouped, means for operating predetermined of said primary, secondary and tertiary relays in succession, a locking circuit for Veach of said relays and means for interrupting the locking relay only, upon the operation of a secondary relay, and means for interrupting a locking circuit of the relays of each set having primary and secondary relays only, upon the operation of a tertiary relay.

5. In a selecting and indicating system, a plurality of electrical indicators, selecting mechanism therefor comprising a plurality of selecting devices, means comprising a rotary commutator, for operating said selecting devices in succession in response to selecting code signals, means for rotating said commutator a predetermined distance in response to each of said selecting signals, means responsive to other signals for operating said indicators and means acting upon the receipt of each of said other signals for restoring said commutator to its initial position.

6. A selecting system for a plurality of devices having alphabetical designations, comprising an individual selector element for each letter of the alphabetical designation of each device, a primary selector having a contact for each letter used in said alphabetical designation, means for operating the contacts of said selector in succession in accordance with the letters of the designation of the device to be selected and circuits controlled by said contacts for operating the selector elements corresponding thereto, said selector elements by their combined operation completing a single selecting circuit.

'7. In a selecting system, a plurality of electrical devices each having a distinctive designation comprising one or more characters, a selecting element individual to each character of the designation of each electrical device, said selecting elements being arranged in groups corresponding to the order of the characters of each designation, a primary selector having a control member corresponding to each character used in said designations, each of said members being constructed and arranged, when actuated in succession, to operate selecting elements representing corresponding characters, and means for restoring to normal all of said operated selecting elements corresponding to devices having a predetermined number of designating characters when a greater number of operations of said control members occur in succession, and means controlled by the combined operation of said selecting elements for effecting the selection of a predetermined one of said devices.`

8. In a selecting system, having a plurality of selectable devices, having distinctive designations comprising one or more characters, in which individual selecting elements are provided for each device corresponding to each character of l its distinctive designation, the selecting elements being arranged in groups corresponding to the order of the characters in the designation, the method of making a selection comprising creating a succession of selecting conditions corresponding to the designating characters of a particular device to be selected, operating all of the selecting elements in the rst group representing characters corresponding to the first selecting condition and upon occurrence of the second selecting condition restoring to normal the portion of said operated selecting elements of the rst group corresponding to devices having a single character designation and operating all of the selecting elements of the second group representing characters corresponding to the second selecting condition, and continuing such operation for each group of selecting conditionsuntil all of the selecting elements for said particular selectable device have been operated; Y

9. In a selecting system, a plurality of groups of selecting relays, a selector variably operable in accordance with received characters for selectively operating said relays, switching means operable at each actuation of said selector Yforassociating said selector With a succeeding group of said selecting relays, a plurality of groups of electromagnets corresponding respectively to the groups of selecting relays, means for conditioning for operation an electromagnet in the rst group in accordance with the selecting relay operated in the first group, and means for conditioning for operation an electromagnet in each succeeding group in accordance with the selecting relay operated in the corresponding group and the selecting relay operated in each group preceding the said corresponding group.

l0. In a selecting system, a plurality of master relays, selecting relays individual to said master relays, certain of said master relays being controllecl by one selecting relay and others by more than one selecting relay, a cyclic operating receiving selector controlled by received permutation code signals for operating said selecting relays, and switching means for associating said receiving selector fora complete cycle of operation thereof, in turn With each selecting relay of the master relay to be selected.

' 1l. In a selecting system, a plurality of electrical devices, selecting relays individual to said electrical devices, certain of said electrical de Vices being controlled by one selecting relay and others by more than one selecting relay, a cyclic operating receiving selector controlled by received permutation code signals for operating said selecting relays, and switching means for associating` said receiving selector for a complete cycle of operation thereof, in turn With each selecting relay of the electrical device to be selected.

12. A selecting system for a plurality of devices having distinctive character designations comprising selecting relays individual to said devices, certain of said devices being controlled by o-ne selecting relay and others by more than one selecting relay, means responsive to signals of the Baudot code type representative or" the character designation of an individual device for operating the relay or relays associated with said device and a circuit associated with said device completed through the contacts of said selecting relays.

13. In a selecting system, means for making selections from a large number of devices each of which has a distinctive designation comprising a non-uniform number of characters, a number of Vindividual selector elements for each device corresponding in number to the number of characters in its distinctive designation, means for transmitting in succession code signals representative of-each character of the designation of the device tobe selected, and means responsive to said signals to operate the selector elements associated with'said device to effect by combined operation the selection thereof.

EVAN R. WHEELER. EMERSON J. SORTORE. 

